Coachella Valley Firebirds set to start training camp ahead of new season

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) -- The Coachella Valley Firebirds are back in the desert and ready to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

After spending time in Seattle with their NHL parent club, the Firebirds will officially open training camp Wednesday, Sep. 23 at Acrisure Arena.

“We are looking forward to the start of the season,” Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said. “I know the players don't like training camp. They don't like practicing. They want to get into game situations.”

Laxdal, entering his third season as head coach of the Firebirds, will lead the team through camp as Coachella Valley gets closer to opening another season in the American Hockey League.

The Firebirds are less than two weeks away from the start of the regular season, which begins with a home-and-away set against the rival Ontario Reign.

Laxdal expects the rivalry to make for an exciting start to the season.

“I guarantee you both teams have that game circled on the calendar,” Laxdal said. “We played them on the 27th in the exhibition game, but we play them back-to-back Friday, Saturday, home and away. I think you're going to see some electric hockey right off the hop.”

Laxdal added that he doesn't expect either team to ease into the season.

“It's not going to be your slow-paced kind of opening game like it was last year,” he said. “I think you're going to see some sparks fly right off the hop, and I know both teams are going to be fired up for those games.”

The Firebirds are entering their 5th season as an AHL franchise, based here in the Coachella Valley.

Firebirds key dates

Here are some of the key dates for Firebirds fans:

• Wednesday, Sep. 23: Firebirds open training camp in the Coachella Valley
• Sunday, Sep. 27: Preseason game against the Ontario Reign - 5pm at Acrisure Arena
• Monday, Sep. 28: Meet the Team event - 5:30pm at Spotlight 29 Casino
• Friday, Oct. 2: Regular-season opener against the Ontario Reign - 7pm at Acrisure Arena
• Saturday, Oct. 3: Road game against the Ontario Reign - 6pm Toyota Arena

News Channel 3 will continue to provide coverage of the Firebirds throughout the season.